UN body turns down Palestinian membership request

The Palestinian Authority failed in its bid to join the UN’s World Tourism Organization.

The United Nations’ World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) on Wednesday turned down a request by the Palestinian Authority (PA) to join the organization as a member state.

UNWTO, the United Nations agency responsible for the promotion of sustainable and universally accessible tourism, announced it was postponing its decision on the issue for another two years.

The PA Ministry of Tourism applied for membership for “Palestine” last year.

Israel has taken diplomatic measures to block the request.

An Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman warned of “expected damage” to UNWTO if it accepts the Palestinians’ request for membership.

The Palestinians have been attempting in recent years to gain access to international bodies in a bid to unilaterally gain recognition of its statehood and by doing so, bypassing peace negotiations with Israel.